Recently, the Economic Research Institute of the French Institute of Fashion reported a noticeable improvement in the textile consumption landscape in France. In August, the value of textile sales saw a significant rise of 8.2%. While this figure still lags behind the levels recorded in the same period in 2007, it marks a clear recovery compared to the downturns experienced in 2008 and 2009, which saw declines of 9.8% and 13.3%, respectively.

The growth was driven by several factors, including the weaker euro, which made French goods more attractive to both local and international buyers, as well as increased tourist spending. Large retail chains witnessed a strong performance, with textile sales rising by 20.1%. Volkswagen stores also showed robust growth at 13.8%, while specialty stores saw a 5.8% increase. Independent stores managed an 8.9% rise, and large retail outlets reported a 7.7% increase. However, hypermarkets had a more modest gain of just 2.9%.

Looking at specific categories, children's clothing remained a strong performer, with a 13% increase from the previous month, marking a turnaround after July’s negative growth. Women’s fashion experienced a notable surge of 19%, while men’s fashion saw a 10.5% rise. On the other hand, men’s undergarments only grew by 0.4%, and women’s undergarments actually declined by 0.7%, indicating weaker demand in these segments. These trends suggest that certain areas of the market are recovering more strongly than others, reflecting shifting consumer preferences and economic conditions.